The U.S. Department of Education today announced Colorado will receive $653,573 to cover all or part of the fees charged to low-income students for taking Advanced Placements tests. The grant is part of more than $21.5 million in grants awarded to 43 states nationwide.

Based on the anticipated number of test-takers and other factors, the grants under the Advanced Placement Test Fee Program are expected to pay up to $38 per Advanced Placement exam for as many as three exams per student.

“Advanced Placement participation is an important element in creating a college-going culture in our high schools,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “AP courses help students develop the study skills, critical reasoning and habits of mind that prepare them for the transition to college. They give students — particularly first-generation college-goers — the confidence that they can successfully handle college-level work.”

By subsidizing the test fees, the program intends to encourage low-income students to take AP tests and obtain college credit for high school courses, reducing the time and cost required to complete a postsecondary degree.

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